Egg-tray



(No Model.)

E. ITGHELL.

TRAY. No. 436,538. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

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EjwZ 1310mm? WM "gm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIOTT L. MITCHELL, 0F PADUCAH, KENTUCKY.

EGG-TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,538, dated September 16, 1890.

Application filed March 29, 1890. Serial No. 345,885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELLIOTT L. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paducah, in the county of McOracken and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to egg-cases, and especially appertains to improvements in the egg-cell trays therefor.

In the manufacture of trays for eggs and analogous articles, as heretofore practiced, it has been customary to construct them from oblong strips of pasteboard orthin wood slit transversely from one side to approximately the center, and the strips arranged at right angles and engaged with each other in a manner to form vertical square packing-spaces, as clearly shown in many patents heretofore granted, and in making the strip for such cases it has been the practice to cut the strips longitudinally with relation to the grain of the wood, and great difficulty has been experienced in the breaking of the strips at the slitted portions.

The object of this invention is to provide an egg-cell tray of such construction that it will not break under any ordinary vertical, longitudinal, or transverse strain, and will retain its shape under all atmospheric influences, and will be cheap to manufacture, strong, light, and'durable.

My invention consists in certain details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the parts of the egg cell tray, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 represents in perspective a portion of an egg-cell tray constructed in accord ance with my invention; Fig. 2, a plan View of a piece of veneer or thin wood from which my improved packing-case strip is cut, the dotted lines showing the direction of cut in forming the strips; and Fig. 3, a plan view of a strip completed.

In the drawings, A represents a piece of veneer or thin wood which forms the blank from which the packing-case stripsB are cut.

The diagonal cross-lines represent the grain of the wood, and the lines 0 denote the direction of cut of the strips B.

The blank A is cut into strips B, and each strip is notched or slitted at its side edge, as

at Z), to a point near its center at right angles to its length and diagonally with relation to the grain-of the wood, which slits are intended to receive the strips of the case, running in the opposite direction, as in the Stevens egg-carrier.

I do not desire to claim, broadly, a strip of wood slitted in the manner shown in the drawings, as I am aware strips have been so slit ted but I am not aware that a strip for eggcell trays has been constructed wherein the slits, length and breadth of strip, were diagonal to the direction of the grain of the wood, which construction comprises the essence of my invention, and secure results new and useful, and it is desired to draw a claim of sufficient breadth to cover an egg-cell tray constructed of a strip so formed.

I do not desire to limit myself to the exact form of strip shown in the drawings, nor to any particular kind of packing-case.

By constructing an egg-cell tray of strips of veneer with the grain running in a direction diagonally to its length and breadth it will be seen that to break any of the strips it is necessary to exert a diagonal strain,which,

when the strips are secured together to form an egg-cell tray, is almost impossible to do, as the packing strain is directly aligned with the length and breadth of the strip.

One of the very essential features of improvement in my eg -cell tray is that, in con sequence of the grain running diagonally to the length of the strips, the portions of the strips between the slits b will not split oif when lifting the tray to release the eggs or other analogous articles. 7

Owing to the fact that wood shrinks across the grain, it follows that strips constructed with the grain running diagonally, as here shown, will shrink lengthwise, and to obviate difficulties arising from unequal shrinkage, which would cause the strips to bind and break in folding into knockdown shape for shipment, I cut notches 0c,which permit longitudinal adjustment of the strips in folding and prevent breakage. These notches are formed at the inner ends of the slits b, and extend at right angles thereto, making said notches L- shaped, and it will be seen that When the cells formed by the strips are 001- lapsed or pressed fiat for shipment the strips will have, in consequence of the longitudinal slits, opportunity to expand or contract. Short locking-slits are out at each end of each strip B, at the opposite edge from that of the slits b.

I claim 1. A collapsible packing-case, comprising a series of intersecting strips B, having the notches or slits I) out entirely through them transversely from the extreme outer edges to a point near their center, with the notches m at right angles thereto, all of which slits are diagonal with relation to the grain of the strip, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an egg-case, a series of bottomless collapsible cells formed by interlocking slitted strips of veneer having the grain of the wood running diagonally to the slits in the strips, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I wit; my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLIOTT L. MITCHELL. Witnesses:

H. E. THOMPSON, A. L. Z. LA SALLE. 

